Turning leaf
In Canadian fashion, Mike Weir rose from struggling athlete to superstar
It's a matter of perspective. Canadians perceive Mike Weir as a giant. He's simultaneously hailed as the "Wayne Gretzky of golf" and the "Tiger Woods of Canada." That kind of iconic blend conjures up images of a hero somewhat larger than real life - certainly something bigger than the 5-foot-9, 155-pound scale model of Canadian golf excellence.
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Turning leaf: part 1
It's a matter of perspective. Canadians perceive Mike Weir as a giant. He's simultaneously hailed as the "Wayne Gretzky of golf" and the "Tiger Woods of Canada." That kind of iconic blend conjures up images of a hero somewhat larger than real life...
Turning leaf: part 2
WEIR GREW UP in a normal suburban area at the southern tip of Lake Huron. Sarnia, Ontario, was featured as the nonviolent Canadian counterpoint to gun-happy America in Michael Moore's Academy-Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine.
Turning leaf: part 3
OVER THE NEXT TWO SEASONS, Weir's continued success fed Canada's expectations. He ended 2000 and 2001 with significant victories at the World Golf Championships-American Express in Spain and the Tour Championship in Houston.
Making the books
A look at who holds tournament records.
Youngest champion - 21 years, 3 months, 14 days, Tiger Woods, 1997
Weir brings back drama
When Mike Weir shot 3-over-par 75 in the third round of the 2003 Masters Tournament, most observers thought he was done. In the history of the tournament, which started in 1934, only four players had come back from third-round scores that high to win.
Herman Keiser, 1946 champion, dies at 89
Herman Keiser, who held off Ben Hogan to win the 1946 Masters Tournament in one of the game's most surprising upsets, died in December.
Tournament must begin without honorary starter again
Arnold Palmer is not quite ready to assume the role of honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.
Tiger's No. 1, but Vijay's on his tail
Tiger Woods keeps extending his record for most consecutive weeks as No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Vijay Singh, though, has narrowed the gap between the top two players in the world by a considerable margin.
Canadians give hockey credit for all the southpaws up North
During the 2002 British Open at Muirfield, four Canadian golf writers went to play a nearby club.
Making history
Mike Weir's victory in the Masters Tournament has been compared to the greatest sports achievements in Canadian history. But how does he compare to the greatest golfers in Canada's history? He's right at the very top, some would argue.
Keeping a healthy outlook
Jim Furyk twice has made spirited runs at winning the Masters Tournament, and he would have been on the short list of pre-tournament favorites for the 2004 event. Instead, he'll sit it out with a wrist injury.
Coming from nowhere
There are many ways to gauge the meteoric emergence of Ben Curtis and his "upset of the century" at the 2003 British Open.
Hitting the jackpot
Shaun Micheel didn't know about the benefits that go with winning a major event until he won the PGA Championship in August.
Woods fights his own battles
Tiger Woods takes this "Army of one" campaign very seriously. The world's best golfer will undergo four days of military training at Fort Bragg, N.C., the week after the Masters Tournament. But Woods already marches to his own, solitary beat in golf.
Through 50 Masters Tournaments, the presence of Palmer could not be denied
The dream struck Arnold Palmer at an early age, when he was just a boy learning to play golf in Latrobe, Pa. Go to Augusta and play in the Masters Tournament.
Patton, Hogan gave Snead tough run
The script for the Masters Tournament has rarely changed in almost 70 years of action at Augusta National Golf Club.
Zoeller's victory gave every first-timer hope
First-time participants in golf tournaments rarely make much of an impact. Frank Urban Zoeller, affectionately known as Fuzzy by his peers, paid little attention to the conventional wisdom.
Big Three recollect rivalry, friendship
No trio of players has ever dominated the game of golf like the Big Three: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
Nicklaus considers retiring
Arnold Palmer will compete in his 50th and final Masters Tournament, and his rival and friend Jack Nicklaus will be there to say goodbye.
Healthy Els eases back on schedule
Two days before the 2003 Masters Tournament, Ernie Els said the wrist injury he suffered a month before the event was "100 percent" healed.
Singh sees Masters as path toward No. 1
Vijay Singh stood outside the scorer's tent at the Augusta National Golf Club, shook his head and kept saying "next year" to reporters after the final round of the 2003 Masters Tournament.
The Old World's best have hit on rough times in recent years
It has reached such a desperate state, you half expect to see a shingle hanging under the "Members only" sign at the end of Magnolia Lane.
Goosen fought for years to gain calm demeanor
Retief Goosen does everything slowly. He walks slowly, talks slowly, takes his time over putts on the green. It would be hard to find anyone on the PGA Tour with a more placid demeanor.
Doldrums Down Under
They've all, at one time or another, awakened before dawn to watch the Masters Tournament's final round before racing off to school.
Pain sends Ballesteros back home
Two-time Masters Tournament winner Seve Ballesteros will end his streak of 27 straight appearances at Augusta National Golf Club.
Finally, Mickelson can put full focus on game
In Phil Mickelson's universe - where family and golf are not mutually exclusive - his priorities might finally be aligned to snag that elusive first major.
To nearly win is never enough
It's a fraternity no golfer wants to join. Its members' names are remembered with a measure of respect and a touch of pity.
Best playoff format? Pick your poison
How do golfers prefer their demise - sudden or drawn out? Would they like their gratification instantaneous or delayed?
Maggert returns to good ol' days
Jeff Maggert can't wait to get another shot at Augusta National Golf Club, especially now that he's regained the consistency he had in the mid-1990s.
Mattiace gets back on track
It wasn't Mike Weir who tripped up Len Mattiace this time. It wasn't the slope to the left of Augusta National's 10th green that caused his fall.
Daly's comeback arrives just in time
There's a wild card in the Masters Tournament field, and John Daly is jacked about it.
Going for his Masters
Since November, Brandt Snedeker has been taking a crash course in Augusta National Golf Club 101.
Love strives to master his emotions
Davis Love III knows he can win the Masters Tournament. He has finished as a runner-up twice, including 1995, when he shot 13-under-par 275, a score bested by only six Masters champions in the 67-year history of the tournament.
Rising star gets another shot at course
Few Masters Tournament fans had any idea who Chad Campbell was at this time last year.
Hamilton will get fresh look at National course
Todd Hamilton won't recognize Augusta National Golf Club when he arrives for the 68th Masters Tournament.
Masters hype is lost on Kaye
Jonathan Kaye might have an advantage over players who are so in awe of playing the Masters Tournament that they can't fully concentrate on their games.
Howell tees off on golf issues
Charles Howell has a standard response for the really tough questions.
Swedish Masters rookie has flair for dramatic
Call him the Swedish Seve if you want. Call him an up-and-coming European star. Call him second behind a woman among Sweden's golfing talents.
Trees will take away bailout area at 11th
The opening hole of Amen Corner did not get any longer for this year's Masters Tournament, but it did get tighter.
O'Meara cuts away his putting problem
Written off. Coasting down the Senior Tour slide. From Mark O'Mazing to Mark O'Merely Ordinary because the yips had dipped him below the competitive relativity line.
50 is magical for tour veterans
If they wanted to, Jay Haas and Craig Stadler could have the best of both golfing worlds. Neither one embraced that prospect, and they have gone separate ways.
Middle-age players still bring competition to field
Turns out the emergence of golfers well into their 40s on the PGA Tour in 2003 wasn't an aberration after all.
How 2004 started
MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS: Stuart Appleby held off a late charge from Vijay Singh to win the season-opening event for winners of 2003 events.
Remaining PGA schedule
April 8-11 - Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta
Past Masters Champions
This is a list of past Masters champions. Players who won in a playoff are marked with a '*'.
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